2008 STATE CHAMPIONSHIP PLAYOFFS

Which undefeated teams are left in 2008?
Now there are no undefeated team left!- Coudersport has also lost, stories found HERE
District recaps--HERE

PIAA Basketball Playoff Brackets (PDF)
-find your team here
--Class Four A (Boys / Girls) --Class Three A (Boys / Girls) --Class Two A (Boys / Girls) --Class One A (Boys / Girls)
(Credit: Pittsburgh Tribune Review)

1-"After the Ball is Over"-as the smoke clears and the 2008 PIAA Championship Season ends, there are some coaching accolades that should be noted: Kevin Bankos (York Catholic girls) has been a head coach for two years and has a record of 69-1 and two state championships; Paul Bhutto (Marian Catholic girls) has recorded over 700 wins and reached the state championship game four times before, but he now has the top prize in his pocket as well; Jim Dooley (Delone Catholic boys) recorded win #100 at his fourth school. He already had 100+ wins at Shippensburg, Cumberland Valley, and Gettysburg-now add Delone to the list; Fred Pickett (Chester) wins the 4-A State Championship for the third time and then announces his retirement in the locker room. He truly was one of the finest men in the game. We here at pahoops.org have worked with Coach Pickett on the Pennsylvania/Maryland All-Star Game and the Pennsylvania/Maryland Shootouts over the years and found him to be an outstanding credit to the sport. In 13 seasons, Pickett guided the Clippers to 331 victories, three PIAA Class AAAA titles, eight District One Class AAAA crowns, eight trips to the state final four and won 80.5 percent of his games during his career (331-80 overall).

Saturday--Jeannette (boys AA) and Marian Catholic (girls A) were afternoon winners.

2-Friday--DISTRICT THREE REIGNS SUPREME
The "BEAST is in the EAST," the East takes 3 of 4 opening championships and places 5 teams on the list of 8 that participate. Friday was a big day for District 3. York Catholic girls (AA), Central Dauphin girls (AAAA), Steelton-Highspire boys (AAA) won from the east while the Serra Catholic boys (A) won from the west. And the Class AAA boys game, featured two District 3 teams, the State Champion Steel High Rollers and the State Runner-up Susquehanna Twp. Indians. Special CONGRATULATIONS to the York Catholic girls who have attended the Pennsylvania/Maryland Shootouts (HERE) in the past and to the Steel High boys who have attended the Pennsylvania/Maryland Basketball Camps (HERE) for the past four years. Players from Central Dauphin, York Catholic, Steel High, and Susquehanna Twp will all play in in the upcoming All-Star Games (HERE).

A fight broke out after Jeannette defeated North Catholic in the Class AA quarterfinal game. Evidently, verbal exchanges in the traditional handshake line now mandated in Pennsylvania helped lead to a melee in the hall after the game where players from both team were injured. The following excerpt is taken from the Mike White Pittsburgh Post Gazette article:

"Jeannette won the Class AA quarterfinal, 86-60, and the fight occurred in a hallway near the North Catholic locker room. The WPIAL will hold a hearing Tuesday with all parties involved in the incident, and WPIAL executive director Tim O'Malley acknowledged some of Jeannette's players could face disciplinary action that might affect their status for Wednesday's PIAA Class AA semifinal game. Long acknowledged some things said on the court by players during the game and in the handshake line might have played a part in the fight.

"Obviously, there were some exceptions to some things that were said upstairs [during the game and in the handshake line]," Long said. "Obviously, you're dealing with 18-year-olds who are highly emotional. It wasn't a pretty scene." Pryor said Joe Long, the son of North Catholic's coach and a junior forward, called him a name in the handshake line. Pryor was visibly upset and was held back by teammates from going toward North Catholic's team." (Complete Mike White article HERE)

I coached for 29 years that included seasons before the handshake line became mandatory and then during the seasons after the handshake line was mandatory. I never liked it because I saw too many times when it was only trouble waiting to happen. You can't play for 32 minutes with all out intensity, and then line up with no emotion and march off the court like "it was only a game." The sport did fine before this tradition was initiated and I feel it will do much better after the PIAA retires the idea. Don't create situations that help lead students into trouble. Give them a chance to leave the floor and let their emotions subside. The handshake tradition was only created by administrators to produce a "politically correct" ending for each game.

4-St. Joseph's decides to forfeit their playoff game. HERE
Yet there were postponements on two different dates so far during the tournament this year. We still think the administrator who made the call for the forfeit in District 6 was wrong! Especially since other postponements were granted during the state playoffs. pahoops.org

5-Will Chester and Norristown meet again? It is possible, but it would come as the State Championship game. They are both in different brackets and each would have to win 4 games to get there.
See the video of the 4th quarter of their District Championship Game -8 THOUSAND OVERFLOW AT VILLANOVA-supplied by Dave Burman http://www.anotherlevelproduction.com/ChesterNorristown.wmv
6-The WPIAL Championships
Quad A - Pittsburgh Central Catholic beat Moon 55-54; Moon has Xavier recurit Brian Walsh.
Triple A - Blackhawk beat Hopewell 68-55; Blackhawk has Div. 1 recurit Antoine Childs.
Double A - Jeannette beat Beaver Falls 82-68; Div. 1 recurits Terrelle Pryor and Todd Thomas played.
Single A - Serra Catholic beat Wilkinsburg 76-61
What a show by Terrelle Pryor. Jeannette beat Beaver Falls 82-68. Pryor finished with 39 points, 24 rebounds, 10 blocks and 6 assists. One point shy of the championship game record. Todd Thomas of Beaver Falls and Junior and Division 1 recruit finished with 25 points and 7 rebounds. Jeannette was the 15th team to win the football and basketball championship in the same year. Serra and Pittsburgh Central Catholic also did it this year. -supplied by the Fayette County Guru